WP: Reported Cases Of Sexual Assault In Military Increase

[DeepModem Mom]

Reported Cases Of Sexual Assault In Military Increase
1,700 Are Processed in '04 Amid New Policies

By Ann Scott Tyson
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, May 7, 2005; Page A03


The number of reported sexual assaults in the military grew in 2004 and is expected to continue to rise next year as a result of new policies intended to remove barriers to victims coming forward, the Pentagon announced yesterday.

Military criminal organizations in 2004 received 1,700 reports of alleged cases of sexual assault, which includes rape, nonconsensual sodomy, indecent assault as well as attempts to commit those offenses.

In 1,275 of the reported cases, service members were alleged victims -- an increase of 25 percent over the number determined by a Pentagon task force in 2003, and 41 percent over the 2002 figure. The overall 2004 figure also included 425 cases in which service members allegedly assaulted or attempted to assault civilians -- a category not included in earlier years' totals.

Victim advocates said the increase could mean that incidents of sexual assault are actually rising in the military, as larger numbers of servicewomen are mobilized for today's conflicts, or that more victims are coming forward to report the assaults -- or a combination of both.

"Our concern is that sexual assault within the military continues to escalate," said Christine Hansen, executive director of the Miles Foundation Inc., a private, nonprofit organization that offers assistance to victims. At the same time, she said, "victims continue to be concerned about their privacy and confidentiality, as well as repercussions that they may face, either through charges of fraternization and adultery or drinking."...


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/06/AR2005050601355.html

[chelsea0011]

1. I can hear the right, now. That's why women don't belong in the military.

[havocmom]

3. Counter that one with facts about the 'christianization' of US military.

Reports from academies that a certain brand of religious teaching is getting more and more common, along with discrimination against those who do not adhere to it.

Anybody have links to those stories from jst a few weeks ago?

And let's no forget generals who tell Islamic nations his god is bigger than their god. Nor should we forget the prurge of military brass/pentagon types who refused to drink the Kool Aid.

[FloridaPat]

2. America the great. Our country has fallen quit a long way down.